September: The Month of Love and Friendship in Colombia
Every September, Colombia dedicates a significant part of its cultural and commercial calendar to a celebration that brings together affection, thoughtful gestures, and gatherings among people who are close to one another. This is Love and Friendship Day, a holiday that, although it shares similarities with Valentine’s Day in the United States, has a distinctive feature: in Colombia, people celebrate not only romantic love but also friendship.
The celebration officially takes place on the third Saturday of September each year. In 2026, Love and Friendship Day will be celebrated on Saturday, Sept. 19, although activities, gatherings, gifts, and events associated with the occasion typically take place throughout much of the month.
During these weeks, it is common for couples, family members, friends, and coworkers or classmates to make plans to spend time together. Restaurants, shopping centers, stores, and other businesses also adapt their offerings for a season in which gifts and shared experiences become particularly prominent.
A celebration that brings love and friendship together in Colombia
Colombia’s Love and Friendship celebration shares some similarities with Valentine’s Day, which is celebrated on Feb. 14 in the United States and other countries. On both occasions, people often express their affection through gifts, messages, dinners, flowers, chocolates, and other thoughtful gestures.
However, the Colombian celebration has an additional component. As its name suggests, the occasion is dedicated both to romantic relationships and to friends. This gives September a broader character, with celebrations that are not limited to couples.
The tradition also has a particular history. Although its roots are connected to Western celebrations of love and the figure of Saint Valentine, the Colombian version developed its own characteristics over time. The celebration was established in September rather than February and began to explicitly incorporate friendship as one of its central themes.
The change was also influenced by commercial factors. In Colombia, February was already associated with the return to school, while September provided a different opportunity to promote gifts and related products and services. Over time, the tradition became firmly established and became part of the country’s social calendar.
Today, September is informally recognized as the month of Love and Friendship, since the celebration is not limited to a single day. In the weeks leading up to the third Saturday of the month, people organize gatherings, gift exchanges, dinners, and activities with different groups.
Secret friend, one of the most popular traditions
One of the most characteristic elements of Love and Friendship in Colombia is Secret Friend, a gift-exchange game that has become particularly popular during September.
The concept is simple and can be organized among groups of friends, coworkers, or school and university students. Participants gather and draw names to determine who their secret friend will be. Each participant’s identity remains secret for much of the game, which is where the name “Secret Friend” comes from.
In many groups, participants establish a maximum budget for the gifts and set dates for exchanging small presents. Some groups also use a system of clues: in the days leading up to the celebration, each participant leaves messages or small gifts for their secret friend without directly revealing their identity.
The game can end with a gathering where everyone gives their assigned gift and reveals who their secret friend was. In other cases, the exchange takes place directly on September 19, coinciding with the official celebration.
The popularity of this tradition has helped Love and Friendship extend beyond romantic relationships. In offices, for example, the game can serve as a team-building activity among employees, while in schools it is often used as an opportunity to strengthen relationships and foster a sense of community among classmates.